Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Do something Beautiful Today

Hi everyone, long time no see. I am going back into the swing of blogging again but I wanted to start off with a cause close to my heart. I am a advocate for those with mental illness. The facility that I work in is having a fundraising for our non-profit facility. I created my own fund raising page that donates to our cause. Here is a little something I wrote on my page.

The Three People You Meet at a Mental Health Facility.

When one goes into a mental health facility, you are leaving the world you know and entering into another. My own personal metaphor that I use is that of Alice in Wonderland. As soon as you walk into a Mental Health facility, you are definitely a different society then the one you left behind. You will see individuals at their lowest point and at their point of reaching the achievement. This is not just for the clients of the mental health facility, but to the staff as well.

Entering this world, you will encounter three kinds of people. Just like Alice met three kinds of people in Wonderland and that she connected with. I do not use this analogy as an insult to these people, but to display to you the unique quality that all these individuals have. Upon meeting these people you will certainly say to yourself, as Alice did, “Curiouser and Curiouser.”

The first person you will meet is the “Mad Hatter.” You will meet this person first not due to being the actual first person you meet but the one that will strike you most due to their eccentricity. They will be the first ones that will talk to you and have you join them for tea. Sometimes the tea parties are actually tea parties that you will partake with them. I personally care and appreciate these people greatly.

The second person you will meet is the “Cheshire Cat.” This person holds great intelligence. They slowly evolve a conversation into a philosophical debate. They open your mind to another perspective. They will have you debate the concept of what is “normal.” The Cheshire Cat will often be open about the negativity that society holds to those who are in mental health facilities and those who work in it. Just like the Cheshire Cat said the Alice “We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” “How do you know I’m mad?” asked Alice. “You must be,” said the cat. “Or you wouldn’t have come.” (Lewis Carroll)

The third person you will meet is not really a person. They are your own looking glass. These individuals are your mirror image. They share your interests, your hopes, your insecurities, and your fears. Your looking glass will teach you an great lesson. This lesson is that there are, at times, very little difference between those in a mental health facility and yourself.

The previous statement is not just for your looking glass because you will soon realize that this is true for the others. This is the ultimately the reason why these facilities are of such great importance to society. When one has reached a low point in their life, there needs to be a place where they can encounter and open, helping hand. I leave you with this statement, be open upon entering a Wonderland, you definitely return a stronger and better person.